UF soccer goes for SEC title

Over the summer, Florida soccer coach Becky Burleigh, who has led the Gators to 10 SEC championships in 15 years, decided it was time for a change.

By Ray FitzGeraldCorrespondent

Over the summer, Florida soccer coach Becky Burleigh, who has led the Gators to 10 SEC championships in 15 years, decided it was time for a change. Among the first things to be shaken up was the team’s practice schedule. Burleigh said the team struggled with fatigue late in the last few seasons, so she opted to take advantage of the lights on the club’s new practice field to work later in the evening when the heat had let up. She is hoping that strategy change will pay off Friday. In what amounts to an SEC regular-season championship game, the No. 10 Gators play their final home match of the regular season at 6 p.m. at Pressly Stadium where they take on No. 13 South Carolina. Over the weekend, Florida (13-4-2, 7-1-2 SEC) regained the top spot in the conference standings from the Gamecocks for the first time since the opening week of league play. The Gators look to hold that spot as both teams wrap up their regular seasons with one match to decide the conference crown. “It’s the biggest game of the season for us. It’s a championship game,” said Burleigh, who led her team to an 11-0 conference record last season. “There’s not a weakness in (South Carolina’s) team. They’re good from back to front.” If the Gators beat the Gamecocks (15-2-1, 7-2-1 SEC), they’re conference champs. If the match ends in a tie, UF will depend on a loss or a tie in LSU’s season finale at Arkansas for the deciding edge. South Carolina must defeat Florida and hope for an LSU loss or tie to take the conference championship. Neither team is interested in employing LSU’s help. The Gators hope to be at full strength for the match. The team’s second-highest point scorer, Brooke Thigpen (15 points), suffered a grade-one sprain of her ankle against Arkansas last weekend and is considered day-to-day. The top five in Florida’s scoring chart, including leader Lindsay Thompson (20), are either freshmen or sophomores. Keeper Katie Fraine has logged 77 saves with a .828 save percentage and seven shutouts. South Carolina is led by sophomore forward, and Lakeland native, Kayla Grimsley, who has 25 points on 10 goals while starting all 18 games for the team. Senior midfielder Kim Miller is second with 14 points. Keeper Mollie Patton has 56 saves on the year, a .903 save percentage and 12 shutouts. Burleigh knows that the relative youth of her team won’t be a hindrance in the game plan. She said that after the group’s current experience with SEC play, they’ve learned one important lesson. “When you’re playing for the Gators, everyone wants to beat you, from the top team in the SEC to the bottom.”